Harford Co. celebrates Arbor Day at Creswell Park

April 27, 2003

Fifty volunteers, including Boy and Girl Scouts, Harford County government employees, high school students and members of AmeriCorps recently helped transform a Creswell cornfield into a newly planted forest.

The effort was part of the county's first Arbor Day celebrated at Creswell Park.

The project was sponsored by the county, Maryland Trout Unlimited, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Forest Service and Harford County Forest Conservancy District Board.

"Harford County has long known the importance of reforestation," said County Executive James M. Harkins.

About 900 swamp white oak, green ash, persimmon, black walnut and sycamore seedlings were planted by workers from the Napieralski Forestry Co., with the volunteers installing a tree shelter around each seedling in the 3-acre parcel of the natural resource district, an area within 75 feet of Bynum Run.

Seedlings are to provide wildlife habitat and enhance the water quality of Bynum Run and the Chesapeake Bay.

Money for the project came from the Harford County Forest Conservation Act Fund. The Harford County Forest Conservancy District Board provided a red maple tree for the ceremonial tree planting to commemorate the day.

The board also provides shade trees and flowering trees for planting at county schools each year. This year, 12 large trees and numerous seedlings will be provided to 15 county schools. The group also co-sponsored the Havre de Grace Arbor Day Celebration on Friday near the Concord Point Lighthouse.